The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-06
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Facts About the Gas Question.

Facts About the Gas question.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal
Straws show which way the wind blows.
Don't you newspaper folks see that the Indian
apolis NaturaI-gas Company, controlled AS it is
by the Indianapolis Gas-lieht and Coke Com
pany, and by the principal coal dealers of the
city, are interested in keeping natural gas out
as long as possiblel Who are the managers of
the Indianapolis Natural-gas Cempany2 George
F. Branham. president; q. r. Root, secretary,
and Allen NJ. Fletcher, treasurer-and MIR.
Fletcher though last is not least He has an
immense lot of coke that he wants to sell this
WHEREOF less than $75, 900 worth, and the
pries has recently advanced three cents a
bushel; make a note of that His receipts from
gas stoves that burn illuminating gas, but would
burn natural gas if it came here, said to
amount to about $4,000, arc his sales of coal
tar, crsosote and other resduum, amount to at
least $75. 900 more. When natural gas comes in
he would not find ready sale for some of
these things. He sells his illuminating gas at
81. 80 a thousand feet AS | have said, when nat
ure's fuel comes in he would not sell mu ch of
his artificial products. By the way artificial
gas is made at the steel-ral mills here for about
% cents a thousand feet and would not cost that
much if the various sub products were handled
with the same they by the
Indianapolis Gas-laht and Coke Company.
Most persons have noticed that the
illuminating gas used In this city IS not
as clean it formerly The smoky wall
papers of our parlors shows that fact and make
this an excellent place for the paper hanger, as
the walls need frequent paperirg.
The Indianapolis CASH. and Coke Company
six months boring that natural gas well on
South street We could put down such well
in twenty Eve days. Now there's some sienif-
canoe IN that fact While that wealthy corpo-
ration was going through the motions every body
awaited the result of that experiment. ana the
company at Ito them) insignificant
outlay made a profitable delay heading
off would be prospectors The three gentlemen
] have named are the executive committee of the
Indianapolis Natural-gas Company, and transact
all the business of the company. Two of them are
coal men. The price of coal has advanced 81 90
per That's funny. isn't III They are
anxious to have the coal business continue good
and they are not likely to cut their own tnroats.
The gentlemen afford drill good gas
we'll occasionally, and cap and keep it. 1t is a
shrewd idea for them 60 prospecting tor
gas and delaying it's introduction by any COM
pany until winter Is upon Unless compelled
by some other company they will not hurry to
bring gas into the city, because their present
business is too good and they don't propose TO
cripple il. The sharpest thing they did was TO
get the manufacturers TO give up any organiza-
ton they intended of their own. These manu-
facturers have subscribed 49, 900 in the Indian
apolis Natural-gas Company. hoping to get cas-
earlier thereby. instead of which they have tied
themselves hand and foot Some of them are
directors, it is true; they allowed to talk a
little; listened to respectfully, perhaps, and
the knowing ones wink and 60 ahead in their
own way-which will prove be the best way
not to bring natural gas into the city. have no